The Hawaiian Electric Company is preparing a community-based renewable energy program for customers on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.
The program allows renters who cannot install privately-owned rooftop solar panels to benefit from renewable energy.
Renters and small business owners can subscribe to a developer who has solar-generated energy at its facility, and share the solar power.
"It’s the second phase that’s starting. In the first phase, it did result in a shared solar project on Molokaʻi that’s currently in construction. And during phase one on Lānaʻi," said Shayna Decker, communications manager with Hawaiian Electric. "We didn’t receive any project proposals from developers, so we’re really looking forward to moving into the second phase on these islands."
"Like most communities, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi residents were really interested in where the projects were gonna be located or sited, and who would be operating the projects as well as the benefits to the community from the participation," Decker explained.
Decker says Molokaʻi is expected to generate 2.75 megawatts of electricity, and 3 megawatts for Lānaʻi through the shared solar program.
The program is expected to be fully running by 2023.
For more information, visit HECO's website on shared solar programs.
